Editorial: The punch needed to propel Corpus Christi's playground

CORPUS CHRISTI - A surveillance video of a man being coldcocked in downtown Corpus Christi punctuates the need for making the city's entertainment district look and feel safer for walking at night. Pending projects to make the entertainment district more pedestrian-friendly couldn't come at a better time for the city's long-term future as a tourist destination and all-around fun place to live.

Broken sidewalks need to be repaired, nonexistent ones need to be built and the most convenient routes for using them need to be pointed out. Also, for gosh sakes, they need to be illuminated with powerful lighting to prevent accidental ankle twists and car-pedestrian collisions, and to discourage criminal behavior such as Saturday's video-recorded attack.

A study in May pointed out most of these problems. It was done by consultants, which means someone was paid to point out what was in plain sight for all to see. But it was money well spent because what is plain to see would continue to go ignored otherwise.

Various officials are looking into how they can leverage $500,000 in city bond money to win state and federal grants for projects in the area under Harbor Bridge being branded as the Sports Entertainment Arts District. The attractions in the district include museums, Whataburger Field, Hurricane Alley water park and concert venues. Some of the officials are experienced at finding grant money, such as Tom Niskala, the Transportation Planning Director for the Metropolitan Planning Organization, who built the handsomely funded Corpus Christi Regional Transportation Authority from the ground up.

Those efforts should be encouraged. They won't just make money for some investors — as if THAT, also, shouldn't be encouraged. The more investments that the money-makers make money off of, the more entertainment options we'll all have. Those entertainment options will improve the quality of life for residents and visitors.

Already, the goings-on at the attractions in this district should have ended complaints that there's not much to do around here. Concerts, baseball, a water park and museums with art, history and culture seem like a lot of options already for one walkable area. Making the experience safer, friendlier and more convenient would improve the city's reputation. Improvements in this area of town could raise the standard for what residents and visitors expect of Corpus Christi, like when they go to San Antonio's Riverwalk. Not long ago, the prospect of having the Riverwalk's equivalent here seemed far-fetched. Now, less so.

The attack Saturday occurred a walkable distance from the SEA District, at Chaparral and Starr streets. Word spreads quickly about this kind of incident. That single knockout punch can deter no telling how many people from enjoying this part of the city. A suspect has been apprehended and if anyone is convicted in this incident, we hope he's sentenced as if he punched Corpus Christi in the face, which in effect he did.

The site of the incident is on the other side of Interstate 37 from the SEA District, but linking the two sides effectively for foot traffic is part of the intent of the Chaparral Street bond project that, interestingly enough, was scaled back to do away with expensive overhead lighting. At the time the City Council made that decision, we warned that it was a mistake that could deter investors. Perhaps it's not too late for the council to take a second, more enlightened look at illumination.